Pa. man ordered to trial in toddler's death

Friday, November 2, 2012

BEAVERDALE, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors say a Pennsylvania man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter gave a number of excuses for injuries the girl suffered before her death but never wavered on one point: He was with her the entire time.

A magistrate on Thursday ordered 25-year-old Patrick Burkett to stand trial on charges including homicide and aggravated assault in the August death of 22-month-old Reagan Panick at his Beaverdale home.

Investigators say Panick died of abusive head trauma. But prosecutors say Burkett gave officers several accounts for the injuries’ cause, including an accidental fall, being knocked over by the dog or him falling on top over her while they played.

Burkett’s public defender tells WJAC-TV) there’s no link between her client and the girl’s injuries.